The Sprout

Botley W.I. 102 years old and still going strong!

The Newsletter for North Hinksey & Botley

Issue 167 May 2022

The Sprout

The Newsletter for North Hinksey & Botley

Directors: Janet Bartlam, Judi Bolder, John Clements,

Michael Cockman, Ag MacKeith, Robin Palmer

Editor

Ag MacKeith

South View House, Old Botley, OX2 0JR Tel: 724452 Editor@TheSprout.org.uk

Advertising Manager

Michael Cockman

50, St Paul's Crescent OX2 9AG Te l : 07766 317691 Adverts@TheSprout.org.uk

Deliveries

Jan Shirley and Isabelle Hayes

9, Sweetmans Road OX2 9BA 07706 606719 Deliveries@TheSprout.org.uk

Copy Date: Copy by 15th of month preceding publication. Earlier submission is

welcome. Later contributions may have to be held over to the next issue.

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other circumstances more advance notice will be needed. For details about exact

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the Advertising Manager.

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Subscriptions: If you live outside North Hinksey Parish you can still receive The

Sprout on a regular basis. Just take out a postal subscription – only £12 per annum,

delivered to your door. Contact: Carol Kramer 01865 243002.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information printed in this

newsletter, mistakes may happen. The Editor and Team apologize unreservedly for

any errors that may occur and will do their best to correct them. This publication is not

a vehicle of the parish council, and parish councillors working with the Sprout do so in

a personal capacity. Opinions expressed are the opinions of the individual

contributors.

All concerned in the production and delivery of The Sprout are unpaid volunteers.

The Sprout is printed by Dataprint Ltd, and published by North

Hinksey Parish Publications Ltd, (a company limited by

guarantee) Registration No. 05609535.

It can also be found online at BotleyHinksey.org.uk

The Sprout

Issue 167, May 2022

Contents

3 Letters to the Editor

5 Botley in Bloom

7 Botley Artweeks

9 Flood Scheme – No!

13 Flood Scheme – Yes!

16 Let’s Celebrate the Jubilee

19 District Councillors

21 XVth Scouts

23 Solar Farm concerns

27 Help with Energy Bills

29 World Scout Jamboree

31 Deep Sea Beavers

33 Kennington Memory Club

35 Planning Applications

37 Randoms

39 Local Organizations

From the Editor

Welcome to a well-filled Sprout. As usual, there is a lot going on.

Oxfordshire Artweeks runs for most of the month of May, but our local

input is mainly in the first half (p7). Botley in Bloom invites entries to the

front garden competition (p5), with a special category for the Jubilee. On

page 16, ideas are firming up for the Jubilee itself – sadly this does not

include the Crabtree Challenge, which failed to find an organizer! But

there’s lots of other good stuff, so get stuck in and let’s make it happen

on that long bank holiday at the beginning of June! The massive Flood

Alleviation Scheme has applied for planning permission at last, and we

are invited to send our comments by 9th May. There are strong feelings

about it, and we publish two views of what’s proposed (pp9 and 13).

Another proposal, this one still awaiting a planning application, is the

potential Solar Farm in the field beside the beacon – see page 23 for a

less than enthusiastic view. Our various local Scout troops are active

(pp 21 and 31) and one lucky local lad has been picked to attend the

World Scout Jamboree in South Korea next year (p29). Our District

Councillors have started a new series of updates (p19), and Botley W.I.

are finally celebrating their Centenary, after a 2-year Covid delay, hence

our cover, which shows their original banner.

Ag MacKeith

Letters to the Editor

West Way Public Art Event

Many thanks for the organizers of the "Public Art for West Way" event

on the 19th March! It was really great to come together with the local

community and get creative in the various activities set up in the Sea-

court Hall. The mosaic workshop was especially interesting and it was

wonderful to learn from the knowledgeable instructors and to get to take

our art pieces home at the end of the day. I look forward to seeing the

mosaic pieces that the commissioned artists will create to beautify the

West Way! It would be amazing to get to do some more mosaic work

within the community in the future as well, if the instructors would be so

kind as to organize other events or workshops. Thanks again!

Local resident (name and address supplied)

The Scouts and the Baptists

It is true that we have had a very long relationship with the [15th]

Scouts. As a Church we have offered them free-of-charge accommoda-

tion, storage facilities, utilities, as well as cleaning and clearing up after

their use. Since the new development the Church building has become

multi-use, with accommodation flats above the Church, and we have

had to remind the Scouts of this situation.

In the past some of the Scouts and their parents used to worship at

Botley Baptist Church, but of late it is of considerable regret [to us that]

this relationship has waned to the point where it is almost non-existent.

The trustees of the Church have always stated that a priority of this

building must be given to Christian worship. When another local church

asked whether they could use some of the building to further their

Christian activities we willingly agreed, as this was in pursuance of our

mandate. We did write to the Scouts advising them of the situation, and

followed this up with an offer to sit down and discuss what alternative

arrangements can be made within the Church. This letter was rebuffed

and instead the Scouts decided to fire off letters to the local press,

including yourselves.

It would have been far better if the Scouts had taken up our offer,

because we believe this would have led to a much more amicable out-

come and prevented any unnecessary animosity between the Scouts

and ourselves.

We would have also appreciated, when the original letter from the

Scouts was received by Sprout, that the editor would have given us the

opportunity to respond at that time, so that we could have both present-

ed to the readership a much more rounded version of events.

Furthermore, we would like to correct the article labelled 'Manna from

Anna' [April, Randoms]. This short article gives the impression that

Anna Antell is still running the café at Botley Baptist Church, which was

run on a for-profit basis. This is no longer the case. It has now been

replaced by a café called Botley Baptist Café, which is run by several

volunteers. There is no charge for refreshments except for donations,

which are gratefully accepted and passed on to other good causes,

such as the appeal for Ukraine.

Botley Baptist Church Deacons

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Botley in Bloom –

Front Garden Competition 2022

CATEGORIES:

1. Best Front Garden

2. Best Cultivated-Wildlife Front Garden

3. Best Jubilee Hanging Basket or Window Box

The last category is a special one-off for this Platinum Jubilee

Year and the judges will be looking for creativity and appro-

priate use of colour.

To register your garden (or any garden you feel the judges

should know about) just send an email with your name and

address to editor@thesprout.org. Don’t forget to say which

category you are entering for!

• Entry deadline is Monday 6 June

• Judging in week beginning Monday 13 June

• Winners announced Monday 20 June

Botley in Bloom is sponsored by The Sprout, NHPC, and LeoQuent.

Botley Artweeks

This year our local community is strongly represented during Oxford-

shire Artweeks’ 40th Anniversary festival, with twenty-one artists and

makers exhibiting their work. The artists listed below form a part of the

Oxford City portion of the festival and it runs from 7–15th May. Details of

specific days and times of opening can be found on the Artweeks web-

site or in the Guides which are free to pick up from libraries, art venues

and our local Co-op.

Elizabeth Newbery is showing her range of functional and decorative

ceramic creations on North Street, Osney Island.

At the West Oxford Community Centre on Botley Road eight thought-

provoking emerging and established artists show a range of exciting

disciplines.

Further along Botley Road you will find Frieda Van De Poll's surreal/

fantasy drawing, painting and sculpture (Riverside Road) and John

Luke King-Salter's modernist abstractions inspired by music and litera-

ture (Helen Road).

On the edge of Elms Rise you will find The Old School Collective

triumphantly returning to the festival with six dynamic creatives showing

new work on North Hinksey Lane, and Tap Social present the work of

artist McShoesue, otherwise known as Sue Smith.

On the Elms Rise estate Ali and Jane Hogg (Arthray Road) will be dis-

playing their individual new mixed-media collages and further up the hill

Kate Hipkiss' paper sculptures and landscapes are not to be missed

(Laburnum Road). The final show on your Botley trail is on Harcourt Hill

for Becca Rowland's inaugural Artweeks exhibition of her glass work.

This Oxford event was the first of its kind in the country, though it is now

widely imitated. It maintains its ethos of supporting free exhibitions,

demonstrations and selling shows, open to all, of the highest quality art-

ists, makers and creatives. If you have an interest, please support your

local venues. You will find out how practitioners push their boundaries to

question and change the world around them and use art to work

through their own personal life challenges.

Ali Hogg

Elizabeth Newbery (11 ) WOCArt (12) Frieda V D Poll (15)

Sue Smith (16) Becca Rowland (18) Hoggs (19)

Kate Hipkiss (20) Old School (17) J-L King-Salter (14)

Oxford Needs a Better Flood Scheme

The Environment Agency (EA) has put in a planning application at last

for its Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme (see Planning Apps, page 35). It

comprises floodwalls, gates, bridges, culverts, and a giant 5km channel

from north of Botley Road to south of Abingdon Road. The EA’s own

reports show that the channel is the most disruptive, costly and

damaging part of the scheme, yet it provides only marginal flood

alleviation benefits compared to the other measures.

The channel will take 3-5 years to build, cost at least £23 million,

and cause

• traffic holdups: 240 HGV movements a day on the A34, a 40mph

speed limit on part of the A34, massive queues at Hinksey Hill junction.

• 2000+ trees to be removed, and much of the biodiversity net gain

happening offsite.

• Loss of 1.3ha of rare MG4a grassland in Hinksey Meadow, with risk

of damage to the rest.

• South Hinksey village to be surrounded by works compounds and

haul roads.

• loss of recreation access to most of the fields between Botley

Road and Old Abingdon Road for 3-5 years, and forever to some areas.

• Excavation of 455,000 cubic metres of soil and gravel with loss of

carbon sequestration.

The scheme is intended to improve flood protection: the EA’s figures

show the number of dwellings with a greater than 1% annual risk of

flooding would reduce from 1126 to 180. However, the same figures

show that the channel only accounts for 5.7% of this reduction (54

properties), which could be protected by more environmentally friendly

and effective methods.

Surely it makes more sense to adopt the scheme without the

channel: we’d get most of the benefits with far fewer costs and minimal

disruption. Meanwhile a pumped pipeline alternative with even fewer

costs and impacts hasn’t even been analyzed by the EA, despite

potentially offering more flood protection both now and in the future.

Please comment on the planning application by 9 May. All documents at

https://myeplanning.oxfordshire.

gov.uk/Planning/Display/ MW.0027

/22#u n d e fin e d under ‘Documents’.

The best document to start on is ‘ES

Non-Tec h n ic al Su m m a ry ’ ( 36 t h

document out of 300+). Also

see https://www.oxfordfloodanden

vironmentgroup.com/ and

https://hinkseyandosney.org/.

Riki Therivel

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FLASHER ALERT!! – ON

THE BROOKES PLAYING

FIELDS IN EARLY APRIL.

BE WARNED!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Flood Scheme Does the Job

The Oxford Flood Alliance, a group of householders who formed

themselves in response to being flooded in 2007, and who have been

the prime movers for most of the remedial work done so far, have sent

this ‘fact check on some of the more exotic claims being made about

the proposed Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme’.

Myth 1: The two-stage channel provides very little benefit and the

scheme would work without it

The key document to look at on the County Council Planning Portal is

ES App Q Modelling Review of No Channel. This compares modelling

data for the scheme as designed with options of having no two-stage

channel at all or no channel in Hinksey Meadow. The report goes on to

discuss the impact of having no channel on the performance of various

elements of the scheme, and likely consequences.

With the channel all but 367 houses and 151 businesses are protected

against a one-in-a-hundred-year flood event. With no channel at all 524

houses and 210 businesses would be unprotected. That means an ad-

ditional 157 houses and 59 businesses would be at risk of flooding in a

one-in-one-hundred-year event. Over and above this, protective earth

bunds and walls, a key part of the scheme, would need to be higher and

longer, and in some places this would not be achievable, putting proper-

ties and infrastructure at risk.

App Q also says: In addition, the freeboard below-bridge soffits would

also need to be increased to meet agreed consenting requirements.

This would make the raised bridges more visually intrusive and increase

the length of approach ramps to bridges, which then creates additional

restrictions across the floodplain. Removing the two-stage channel just

in Hinksey Meadow would have a less severe impact on the

effectiveness of the scheme. The modelling for this option shows 438

houses unprotected (an increase of 71 compared to the scheme as

designed) and 172 businesses (21 more). The scheme is not just about

individual homes and businesses but also about general disruption to

city life. The channel provides a defined route for the additional

floodwater to pass through the western floodplain – it brings certainty

and reliability. Without the channel, floodwaters are dispersed,

increasing flood risk in some areas. When all factors are weighed up,

the scheme as designed offers the best option according to the review.

Myth 2: ‘Hinksey Meadow’ will be ‘destroyed’

Hinksey Meadow, north of Willow Walk (owned by Oxford Preservation

Trust) is home to rare grassland. Most of the rest of the scheme area is

agricultural land with relatively poor biodiversity. The scheme proposes

LOOKING TO GET INVOLVED IN THE

BOTLEY COMMUNITY?

Seacourt Hall Management Committee (SHMC) is

looking for a new Secretary and Treasurer. The role

receives an honorarium of £1000 a year plus £10 a month for

miscellaneous costs.

Seacourt Hall is located in West Way Square below the Library

and provides modern, flexible facilities for our growing

community. The hall is currently the venue for a variety of

activities – from exercise classes to baby groups, from martial arts

to a seniors lunch club – and can be hired for parties, meetings

and more.

Check out the schedule on our website www.seacourthall.org.uk

The combined role of Secretary and Treasurer would suit someone

with some accounting, finance or similar experience, a good

understanding of financial management and reporting.

The Secretary role involves setting up and taking minutes for 4 to

6 meetings a year, being the point person for contact with the

Charity Commission and acting as the custodian of our governing

document. The role of Treasurer is to help trustees carry out their

financial responsibilities.

For more information please contact Lorna Berrett, Chairman of

Trustees at lberrett.nhpc@gmail.com

taking up to 1.3ha of Hinksey Meadow for the two-stage channel, the

rest of the meadow (11.7ha) will be preserved. Considerable attention

has been given to ensuring the hydrology is not affected by the scheme.

Across the rest of the scheme 17.8 ha of additional flower-rich mead-

ows will be created. This will obviously not have the diversity of Hinksey

Meadow, but over the life of the scheme these meadows will increase

significantly in complexity. Wetland areas will also be created along the

course of the new stream, and the whole scheme area will be actively

managed for biodiversity. None of this will happen if we maintain the

status quo.

Myth 3: Maintenance has only been budgeted for 15 years

All costs, including maintenance for 100 years, form part of the overall

economic analysis, and specific funding sources have been identified

for the first 10 years. No construction project is required to specify ex-

actly where maintenance costs will be met from fifty years from now.

That’s impossible. Any alternative proposal would face the same issue.

Myth 4: Construction means 114 HGV vehicle movements a day on

and off the A34 for 3-5 years

Construction of the channel is expected to take three years. Movement

of soil from the site will take place mainly in a 15-month period spread

over two summers. The EA is proposing to bring forward a separate

planning application to move significant amounts of material by rail,

which will substantially reduce road use.

Myth 5: Construction will bring a big increase in carbon emissions

The ES Non-technical summary for the scheme says: The whole-life

carbon dioxide emissions of the project are estimated at 19,558 tonnes

and the operational carbon is 4.65% of this (i.e. 909 tonnes), based on

the proposed maintenance regime. To put this into context, a 2019

Oxford City Council report stated that carbon dioxide emissions from the

city in 2017-18 were 718,362 tonnes per year. The emissions due to the

Scheme including operation for 100 years would be equivalent to the

direct emissions from the city for less than 10 days.

The planning documents referred to above can be found here:

https://myeplanning.oxfordshire.gov.uk/Planning/Display/MW.0027/

22#undefined Look under ‘Documents’ and use the search bar to lo-

cate the document you are looking for. A full description of all design

options considered for the scheme is set out in the Environmental

Statement, section 2.3.

Simon Collings

Let’s Celebrate the Jubilee!

The celebrations for the Queen’s Platinum

Jubilee run from the 2nd to the 5th of June.

Both Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd are bank

holidays. In Botley we have two big

celebrations planned as well as some street

parties.

Thursday 2nd June – Lighting the Beacon. Party from 7pm

At 9.45pm beacons will be lit across Britain. Ours is on top of the hill

above the Louie Memorial Field – with views to the Cotswolds, the

Chilterns and the Ridgeway. We will join with people from Cumnor to

light the beacon, but first, from 7pm, there will be a party on the playing

field, with a Tap Social bar, and a barbeque (by the 15th Oxford Scouts)

or you can bring your own picnic. There will be a ‘down the decades’

family-friendly disco. Period dress welcome! From 9.15 we will collect

our candle lanterns and start to make our way to the top, and by 10pm

we should be able to pick out the lights from other beacons twinkling

around the horizon.

Saturday 4th June – The ‘West Way Festival’ is back (2pm – 6pm)

On the Saturday we will have our first open-air party in the new

shopping centre with music, games and entertainment for everyone.

There will be a stage on Church Way and more events in the Seacourt

Hall into the evening, including a local history exhibition (see opposite).

Local heroes the ‘Botley Crue’ will be among the performers. Food and

drink available – the Seacourt Bridge will be running an open-air bar by

Te s c o . We’ll have pub games, sports demonstrations, and hopefully a

pop-up skatepark in the car park behind the library. Let’s decorate the

white hoardings on the building site opposite the Co-op!

We need your help to make West Way come to life! Would you like to

help with activities on the day? Are you part of a local organisation that

might run activities, have a stall, or help decorate the West Way

shopping area (we’ll need lots of bunting!). Would you like to perform?

Are you a resident in the new West Way flats? Shall we have a ‘be st

decorated balcony’ competition? Botley celebrations are being

supported by North Hinksey Parish Council, the Sprout and other

groups – all volunteers welcome. If you would like to be part of this, you

can get more information on how you can be involved by emailing

janet.b a rtla m@n tlworld.co m If you want to perform, email

chrischurch@cooptel.net Follow our Facebook page for all the latest

updates: https://www.facebook.com/BotleyJubilee2022

On Sunday 5th June it’s the national ‘Big Lunch’ – with street parties

planned all over the place – we know of just two in the area so far. If

you’re planning one, please contact the Sprout. And if you want to

celebrate all the way through, the Seacourt Bridge will be having their

own Jubilee party on Friday 3rd.

PHOTOS AND MEMORIES!

Do you have any old family photos or stories that we can use for a local

history display on Saturday 4 June? This exhibition will take place in

Seacourt Hall, and will be part of the Festival events celebrating the

Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. !!!!Amongst the topics we’ll be including are: !

1) Past jubilee events in the Botley area, !

2) Botley since the 1950s, !

3) Seeing/meeting royalty (wherever in the world this was),

and of course !!!!!4) The 1953 Coronation day. !

If you can, please email me your stories and photos (JPEG if possible)

on martin.harris321@gmail.com !

Martin Harris

Mark Hancox’s photo from the Sprout archive shows a slow bicycle race

under the Arthray Road bunting at the 1977 Silver Jubilee Celebrations.

District Councillors’ Notebook

Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme (OFAS)

The OFAS planning application has been submitted. To see the plan-

ning application and respond to the consultation, go to the Oxfordshire

County Council’s planning portal:

https://myeplanning.oxfordshire.gov.uk/Planning/Display/MW.0027/22

If you are interested in the Environment Agency’s scheme and how it

will help your community resist future flooding events, you’re encour-

aged to have a look at their plans and respond to the consultation. It’s

open until 9th May, and the targeted committee decision date is 6th

June 2022. There’s an introductory video, outlining the plan in the con-

text of historical floods and climate change. You’ll find the video at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dd-tHCniXvU

Wait, there’s more! Visit the dedicated website to see videos, maps and

information about the scheme: https://consult.environment-

agency.gov.uk/thames/oxfordscheme/

Safe Places Scheme Launched in Botley

Vale of White Horse has signed up to this nation-

al scheme, which means anyone who is in need of

help or not feeling safe for any reason can go into

the shops, cafes, or businesses displaying the

Safe Places logo for help and support.

So far, Missing Bean, Andrews, Lloyds, David

Spicer's and B&Q are signed up, but we are

looking for more businesses to get involved

and for help to spread the word.

More info at: https://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/vale-of-white-horse-

district-council/community-help-and-safety/protecting-vulnerable-

people/safe-places-scheme

Biffa’s electric vehicle

Have you noticed a new electric collection vehicle in the past few

weeks? Maybe not, as it’s very quiet. Check out ‘Glitterball’ here:

https://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/climate-emergency/a-glittering-

future-fo r-waste-collections/

Debby Hallett and Emily Smith, our two district councillors

15th Oxford Scouts –

New Venue, Same Great Activities

After a turbulent month coming to terms with our eviction from Botley

Baptist Church Hall, and exploring how best to continue our 112 year

old Scouting story we are delighted to say that the 15th Oxford Scouts

have been able to secure the use of the Botley Boys and Girls Football

Club Pavilion on Fogwell Road. Our Friday night meetings will be held

there from 6th May to 29th July, at our usual meeting times: Cubs from

6pm to 7:30pm, Scouts from 7:30pm to 9pm. We look forward to the

opportunities of our new venue and are thankful for the help of Cumnor

Parish.

Our thanks are also due to all those that gave messages of support and

those who offered us solutions and possibilities to keep functioning

without a hiatus. It is particularly heart-warming to know that Scouting is

seen as such a valuable resource. And perhaps even more exciting

than a new venue is being able to share it with more people from the

local area. Cubs is open to all those aged 8–10.5, while Scouts is open

to those aged 10.5–14. We currently have spaces in both sections, so

get in touch for more details.

Equally if an adult volunteer role is

something of interest to you,

whether on the committee, as a

leader, as an occasional helper or

as something as yet unknown, we

would love to hear from you! Or

why not drop in to our AGM on Fri-

day 6th May at Fogwell Road Pavil-

ion.

We are full of plans over the next

few months for both Cubs and

Scouts to get out and about, go

camping, experience water-based

activities, take part in community

engagement, have fun, forge

friendships and make memories.

Maybe our next chapter is the first

chapter in a Scouting story for

someone you know. XVOxford

Scouts@yahoo.co.uk

Tom Freeman

Concerns About Solar Farm Proposal

When we process up to the beacon to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum

Jubilee on 2nd June, let’s all take a good look at the wide-ranging views

south for 20kms as far as the Ridgeway, because it might be the last

time we see them if an application to build a solar farm on the hill goes

ahead.

A company called Solar2 is proposing to build a 31-hectare solar farm –

the size of 45 football pitches – on the south side of the hill on which the

beacon stands, green belt farmland owned by All Souls College. It could

also use a further piece of land – currently horse paddocks – to the

south of the bridleway adjoining Brookes playing fields, above Hinksey

Heights Nature Reserve and in North Hinksey parish.

We all want and need solar power, but this proposal potentially inflicts

loss and damage to other valued environmental and social goods. The

visual impact of rows of panels on this prominent site would be

enormous. The long views from the top of the hill could be obstructed by

six-foot high security fences. The view from the footpaths at the bottom

of the hill would be of a near-vertical wall of solar panels. Because the

site is on a slope, it cannot be effectively screened – indeed, hedging at

the top would only further block those views.

The proposal ignores warnings in the solar industry’s own “planning

guidance for the development of large-scale ground-mounted solar PV

systems”. These (by the BRE National Solar Centre) state that “land

selected should aim to avoid affecting the visual aspect of landscapes,

maintain the natural beauty and should be predominantly flat….” and

warn that “the landscape/visual impact of a solar PV farm is likely to be

one of the most significant impacts of such a development. Developers

may be attracted to southerly sloping sites, where solar gain is greatest.

However, such sites … are likely to be more visible within the wider

landscape”.

There are other potential impacts. Neighbouring Hinksey Heights

Nature Reserve is a nationally rare and biologically rich alkaline fen,

with other diverse habitats, and home of several rare species. It is much

valued and used by us, the public. How the arrays of panels on the hill

and the paddocks might affect the hydrology of the fen is a serious

concern. Security fences around the sites are also likely to impede the

free movement of animals to and from the reserve.

The electricity produced by the farm would also need to be transmitted

to the national grid sub-station at Osney Mead, via underground high

voltage cables. The developer’s preferred route for these cables would

be to dig a trench along the bridleway, down Harcourt Hill, under the

A34 and across Oxford Preservation Trust land.

Yet despite these concerns, and others, the Vale of White H orse District

Council agreed in December with the developer’s argument that the

impacts would be so limited that an Environmental Statement was not

needed at that time. An Environmental Impact Assessment (including a

Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment) will only be required when

the developer submits a formal planning application. The Vale’s

conclusion at the December screening stage that “no significant

environmental impacts have been identified” is baffling; for example,

Hinksey Hill Nature Reserve is not even mentioned in their screening

matrix, although other nature reserves further away are referred to.

Unfortunately, the only time that we, the public, may have the

opportunity to see Solar2’s plans – and in many cases, regrettably, to

hear about them for the first time – may be very soon. Although BRE’s

planning guidance advises that “the local community should be

engaged, by the developer, at the pre-design, conceptual stage, ideally

utilizing a local exhibition/presentation where community views can be

sought and recorded”, this did not happen. Solar2 will only mount an

exhibition in the weeks before submitting a planning application. This is

likely to be this Spring. Instead, Solar2 has launched a website –

https://cumnorsolarfarm.co.uk/the-proposal – and is dangling the

prospect of a “community benefit fund”, saying it “would like to hear

from individuals and local groups about their ideas for how a Cumnor

Solar Farm community benefit fund could work for the benefit of the

local community around the farm”.

The hillside is within the boundary of Cumnor Parish Council, which has

been very active in publicizing the proposal to parishioners. It has also

investigated the background and qualifications of Solar2, and its

associated companies, as there is very little information on Solar2’s

main website (see https://cumnorparishcouncil.org.uk/planning).

But North Hinksey parishioners are equally affected, and part of the site

is in this parish. Yet North Hinksey PC has not been nearly so active. It

should be important to ensure people here are informed about what

could happen to these green spaces and to ensure all proposals receive

full and objective scrutiny.

John Magrath

[To be fair, John, NHPC did organize a trip to a local solar farm to see

what was involved. The Sprout will keep a look-out for an actual

planning application. No sign of it as yet. Ed]

Help with Energy Bills

We’re all aware that energy bills are on the

rise. Global gas prices were at record levels

even before Russia invaded Ukraine. When

the energy price cap is lifted from 1 April 2022

anyone on a standard variable tariff is set to

see their energy bill rise by an average of £700/year. Those on fixed

rate tariffs will find their bills stay the same until the end of their contract.

It’s worth taking action now to limit the effect of the price rise as much

as possible. Citizens Advice can help in a number of ways. Our

website contains a wealth of information about energy bills, smart

meters, how to complain to your energy supplier and what to do if you’re

struggling to pay your energy bills. Find it all here:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/

You can ring our Adviceline (0800 144 8848) and talk to a trained

adviser about your energy issues. We can help you check whether

you’re entitled to any grants offered by the government or by your

energy supplier, either to help you pay your bills or to improve the

energy efficiency of your home. We can carry out a benefits check to

make sure you’re claiming everything you are entitled to: we discovered

that one client we spoke to recently, who came to us with concerns

about her rising fuel bills, wasn’t claiming the Council Tax support that

she was entitled to. Claiming this will make a big difference to her ability

to pay her bills. We can also offer tailored advice if you’re struggling with

debt.

There are also plenty of simple things you can do to save money on

energy bills. These won’t solve the problem of rising bills but they will

definitely help matters: checking your doors, windows and floors for

gaps where draughts can get in and blocking these, turning down the

thermostat by just one degree, closing the curtains at dusk to help keep

the warmth in, only boiling as much water as you need in the kettle,

turning off appliances such as TVs rather than leaving them on standby,

making sure you use low energy light bulbs and turning them off when

you leave the room, and not leaving mobile phones on charge

unnecessarily. Checking your home’s Energy Performance Certificate

online at https://www.gov.uk/find-energy-certificate should give you

some ideas about how to improve your home’s energy efficiency and

start a conversation with your landlord about how to improve the

insulation in your home.

Caroline B (CA Advisor)

Oxfordshire Scouts at the World Scout Jamboree

Hello, I am Ben Zaccheo, I am 13 years old, I am part of the 4th Oxford

Scout Group, and I will be attending the 25th World Scout Jamboree.

The World Scout Jamboree is an event hosted by a selected country,

that occurs every fou r years. Around 50,000 Scouts worldwide come to

each World Scout Jamboree (WSJ). The UK contingent takes around

4,000 Scouts between the ages of 14 and 18. Many other countries also

attend and it’s a great opportunity to take part in lots of awesome

activities.

The 25th WSJ will take place in South Korea in August 2023. I applied

to take part because I wanted to see and experience other cultures and

activities. I was also keen to go on a plane for the first time! Around 180

other Scouts from Oxfordshire applied and attended a selection

weekend at Hill End to compete for 36 places. We had to take part in

many different activities over the weekend whilst being marked on skill,

behaviour and most importantly (in my opinion), social skills. I had a

great time and met some great people.

At the beginning of March, I found out that I got a place! I am now facing

the challenge of having to help fundraise £160,000 between the 36

successful Scouts. As well as covering the cost of our attendance, this

amount subsidises the fees for Scouts from poor countries, to ensure

that everyone has the chance to take part. We will be organizing lots of

events across Oxfordshire over the next year and we really hope our

local communities will support us. I have already raised over £300 with

my Easter egg raffle for the 4th Oxford, with support from Waitrose, Co-

op and Hotel Chocolat, who all donated prizes. I will also be running a

stall with other WSJ members at the 4th Oxford Family Fun Day at the

Rugby Club on June 18th. I hope you can come along and support us

and enjoy the many activities that will be on

offer.

If you would like to help us achieve our goal

and get us to Korea then you can donate at:

https://wonderful.co.uk/pay?ref=291693

I will provide further updates on my progress

in future editions of the Sprout.

Thank you for your support!

Ben Z.

Deep Sea Beavers

Last weekend I was lucky enough to join the Beavers on their spring

“Under the Sea” Camp, as a weekend helper. They started by arriving

in their fancy dress costumes, in time to learn that David Attenborough

had phoned to ask them to explore an undiscovered part of the ocean.

First they had to build junk

submarines that they could

all fit in, to sail to their

unknown destination. When

they got there, they explored

the sea floor and made

some sea chimes, some

under the sea scenes,

octopuses, and fish.

Unfortunately, there was a

terrible storm that blew them

off course and crashed them

on to a deserted island.

This was not any island though – it belonged to the magical fire fairies.

They collected firewood and

built dens to be safe for the

night. Dinner was next, with

fish fingers and chips, followed

by apple strudel, and singing

songs around the campfire

with the fire fairies. Then they

had an unexpected visit from

Olivia the Octopus who read

them bedtime stories to help

them settle down for the night.

In the morning after breakfast,

they lit fires with flint and steel, made water filters (some of which were

surprisingly good); did some sensory activities and also learnt about

rubbish in the sea and helped to clear some out.

After toasting marshmallows, they heard a blue whale noise. They

managed to get the whale’s attention and all linked hands to compare

the size of it. They rode home on the back of the whale just in time for

their parents to collect them. Everyone was exhausted, but I think they

all had a good weekend adventure. Alicia Hodges (aged 12)

Kennington Memory Club

Kennington Memory Club is very grateful to the School Lunch Company

who have been providing hot meals for our members from St Swithun’s

School kitchen since the Club was set up in 2018. This arrangement

worked well, but had the drawback that the Club had to source hot

meals during the school holidays.

We are proud to announce a new partnership with the MacIntyre Oxford

Learning Centre, based in Kennington, which supports people with a

learning disability. The MacIntyre Centre is now supplying us with

delicious hot meals all year round. This provision builds on the Centre’s

aim of helping those they support to develop life skills, such as

consulting recipes, purchasing food and cooking it too, as well as

engaging with the local community. It is great to be working with

another charity based in Kennington and one which is also providing a

service for those who need it.

A reminder of what the Club does – our day care sessions, held at

Kennington Methodist Church, provide company, different surroundings,

activities, music, friendship and laughter, and give their carers much-

needed respite from their duties. Phone Helen, our organizer, on the

number below if you know

someone who would like to come.

We have excellent professional

staff, but we are always on the

lookout for new people to join our

band of volunteers, to keep things

running smoothly. If you would like

to help out, contributing to the

experience our members enjoy

each time they attend the Club,

and have a good time yourself,

please contact Helen, on 07852

883496. This could be for a half

day on a Monday or Thursday

once a week, once a fortnight, or

at any frequency that suits you.

More information on our website:

kenningtonmemoryclub.org.uk

Isobel Birse

LOCAL PLANNING APPLICATIONS

P22/V0517/HH

106D West Way. Roof extension

with rear dormer and 6 roof lights.

28 February

TDD: 25 April

P22/V0555/HH

3 Laburnum Rd. Demolish garage &

existing extension, build 2-storey

side extension & single storey rear

extension.

3 March

Target

Decision Date:

28 April

P22/V0577/FUL

36 Westminster Way. Change of

use from 6-bed HMO to 8-bed HMO

4 March

TDD: 29 April

P22/V0583/FUL

72 Westminster Way. Change of

use from 5-bed HMO to 7-bed

HMO. Demolish garage &single

storey at rear, build single storey

rear & side extensions.

4 March

TDD: 29 April

P22/V0714/HH

27 Lime Rd. Loft conversion.

18 March

TDD: 13 May

P22/V0647/HH

57 Yarnells Hill. Double storey

extensions to the rear, sides & front

with 2 rear dormer windows. New

windows & dropped kerb.

22 March

TDD: 17 May

P22/V0727/FUL

Variation of

condition 2,

P17/V3275/FUL

The Gables, 6 Cumnor Hill,

Replace guest house and garage

with 9 flats with off-street parking,

covered bicycle and bin storage.

23 March

TDD: 18 May

P22/V0563/FUL

190 Westminster Way. Side

extension making new self-

contained 4-bed house.

28 March

TDD: 23 May

P22/V0774/FUL

Oxford Sports Lawn Tennis Club

North Hinksey Lane. Erect

floodlights to 2 hard tennis courts.

29 March

TDD: 24 May

P22/V0835/CM

OXFORD FLOOD

ALLEVIATION

SCHEME

North A420 Botley Rd to south

A423 ring road between A34 to

west & railway line to east including

land between A4144 Abingdon Rd

to the west & River Thames.

A flood alleviation scheme to

reduce flood risk in Oxford .

31 March

Consultation

End Date 9th

May 2022

TDD: 21 April

(?!)

P22/V0784/HH

34 Yarnells Hill. Erect 2-storey rear

extension & a loft conversion with a

raised ridgeline & roof lights.

5 April

TDD: 31 May

Randoms

Cycling volunteers needed

The Botley Bikers are a dedicated team of cyclists who deliver food,

toiletries and other essentials to the homeless and vulnerably housed in

Oxford city centre. We are currently going out every Sunday and alter-

nate Tuesdays, merrily pedalling away up the Botley Road. However,

due to an increased demand for our services, we're looking to add

another delivery and for this we need some more two-wheeled heroes!

Could this be you? If you are

• a confident cyclist

• free on a Thursday afternoon (4-6 pm). No need to commit to every

week

• a team player

• in possession of a good dose of empathy

Then we want to hear from you!

The person to contact is Rachel Monks: rachaelmonks@ g m ail.com .

Full training will be given and you're guaranteed to meet some amazing

fellow humans. You'd also be helping in the battle against food waste,

as much of what we hand out is surplus produce that would otherwise

be discarded. It's a win-win situation.

Botley W.I .

Our new programme for the year begins in May and can be seen in full

on our Facebook page. We shall hold a ‘Resolutions and Social’ meet-

ing on Tuesday, 3rd May, at 7.30 pm, when we shall discuss the resolu-

tion to be put to the national conference in June, that “Women and girls

with Autistic Spectrum Disorders or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disor-

der are under-identified, under-diagnosed, misdiagnosed and under-

supported.” W.I.s have been politically active since their foundation,

pressing for health, environmental and social changes in their annual

motions. We will combine discussion with a social evening – visitors are

always welcome. On Saturday 14th May we will be opening the Botley

Women’s Institute Centenary Extension Project – our new extension,

which is now complete.

Alison Jenner

Andrews

It is with real regret that we note that Andrews the Dry Cleaner, where

they also cut keys and replace watch batteries, is closing. This is one of

the really useful old-style Botley shops, which survived the mighty

upheaval of the building works but was defeated in the end. We will

miss you, Andrews. Thanks for staying as long as you did.

Organizations: If your organization is not listed here, please send details

to editor@thesprout.org.uk or telephone 724452 for inclusion.

1st Botley Brownies

Girls aged 7–10

Dean Court Community Centre Thur 6–7.30 Jean

Metson, firstbotleybrownies@g m a il.com

2nd Botley Brownies

Girls aged 7–10

Rosary Room, Yarnells Hill. Tues 6:15-7:45 Alison

Griffin 2ndbotleybrownies@outlook.com

4th Oxford Scout Group

Beavers, Cub Scouts, Scouts

mail@thefourth.org.uk Website:

http://www.thefourth.org.uk/

15th Oxford Scout Group

Boys and girls welcome

Fridays, Cubs 6.30-8, Scouts 8-9.30, Pavilion, Fogwell Rd.

Amy Cusden (Cubs) 07887 654386, Tom Freeman (Scouts)

07837 623768 xvoxfordscouts@yahoo.co.uk

Baby & Toddler Group

Tues/Thurs 9.15–11, SS Peter & Paul Church Hall

BikeSafe. B4044 community

path campaign

Wants to connect Botley to Eynsham. Meets every 6-8

weeks. Contact via website B4044path.org

Books on Wheels R.V.S.

Free Library Service for housebound Ox. 248142

Botley Boys & Girls F.C.

Football teams from ages 8-16

Brendan Byrne 792531

brendan.byrne999@gmail.com

Botley Community Larder

Thursdays, 3.30 to 5.30 at St P&P Church Hall, West

Way, Facebook or email botleylarder@gmail.com

Botley and Kennington

Patients Participation Group

Second Tuesday in the Month, early evening.

Contact csugden@ocrpl.org

Botley Library

07922 849680. Open till 7 on Friday and 1pm on Sat,

otherwise 9.30 to 5.30 (closed Wednesdays).

Botley Seniors Lunch Club

Alternate Thursdays. Seacourt Hall. Jackie Warner

Ox.721386

Cumnor Choral Society

Friday 7.45 to 9.45 pm John May 07795 054142 or

www.cumnorchoralsociety.wordpress.com

Cumnor Chess Club

Thurs 7–9pm Cumnor Old School. Steven Bennett

01993 684494 www.cumnorchessclub.co.uk

Cumnor & District

Historical Society

Last Monday of the month 7.30-9.00 Cumnor Old

School. 01865 724808

Cumnor Gardening Club

http://cumnorgardens.org.uk/

or phone 01865 721026

Harmony InSpires, Ladies'

Acappella Singing Group

Wed 7.30 at Appleton Village Hall. C. Casson 01235

831352 or harmonyinspires@hotmail.co.uk

Hill End Volunteer Team

Contact: David Millin on david.millin@hill-end.org,

call 863510 or visit www.hillend-oec.co.uk

Lawn Tennis Club, N Hinksey

Family club Email: Tennis@OxfordSportsLTC.org

West Oxford Singing Circle

Weds 2-3pm, WOCC, Emily 07969 522368 or see

www.emilyschoirs.co.uk

Morris Dancing – Cry Havoc

Barbara Brett 249599 or bag@cryhavoc.org.uk

North Hinksey Preschool

and Childcare clubs

Mon–Fri 7.45am–6.00 pm. Tel 794287 or email

nhps.manager1@gmail.com

N Hinksey Art Group

Weds 10–12.00 W.I. Hall Christina 07931 707997

N Hinksey Bellringers

Contact: Ray Rook 01865 241451

N Hinksey Conservation

Volunte e rs

Meets at weekends Contact Voirrey Carr

07798743121 voirreyc@aol.com

N Hinksey, Friends of

Annual Cricket Match/ Walk. Douglas Bond 791213.

N Hinksey Parish Council

clerk@northhinksey-pc.gov.uk

N Hinksey Youth Club

Weds at LM pavilion, Daz: 07791 212866 or F’book

Oxford Flood Alliance

R Thurston 01865 723663 or 07973 292035

Oxford Flower Arranging

Club

4th Thursday Cumnor. Dympna Walker: Ox 865259

Oxford Harmony

Wednesdays 7.30 – 9.30 pm at Seacourt Hall

Contact pro@oxfordharmony.co.uk

Oxford Otters

Swimming for people with disabilities. Sundays,

twice monthly. Contact: Alan Cusden 723420

Oxford Rugby Club

Boys and girls from 5, kevin.honner@ntlworld.com

Seniors, training etc jbrodley@chandlings.org.uk.

Raleigh Park, Friends of

raleighpark@raleighp ark.o rg.uk

Seacourt Hall Management

Committee

Contact Lottie White, 07452 960100, or see

https://www.seacourthall.org.uk

Shotokan Karate Club

6+ WOCC twice weekly

Martyn King 07836 646450

Stagecoach Botley

Seacourt Hall, Saturdays 9:00am–3pm Performing

Arts for 4-16 yr-olds Oxf 590510 or 01235 390810

Well-Being Walks, Botley

2nd & 4th Saturdays 9.50 Louie Memorial Field car

park, Arnolds Way. Ashley 07717 714477

West Oxford Bowls Club

Dave Ellerker 07931 603801

wobc.membership@gmail.com

West Oxford Taekwon Do

Club

Mon, Thurs 6.30-8pm, MA gym, contact Chris Hall

01865 570291 www.wotkd.co.uk

West Oxford U3A

(Uni of the 3rd Age) http://westoxfordu3a.org.uk/

West Way Day Centre

Mon & Fri 10–3pm, Field House, 07740 611971.

oxfordshirehub@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk

Women’s Institute (Botley)

Alison Jenner 07598 251161

alisonjenner@yahoo.com

Weight Watchers

Thursdays 6pm at SS Peter & Paul Church Hall

Banso tel: 07779 253899 bansob@aol.com

Baptist Hall

1 Church Way

Contact: Diane Melchert 01865 243664

botleybaptistchurch@gmail.com

The Rosary Room

Yarnells Hill, Elms Rise

Contact Maria Brown,

Te l : 0 1 8 6 5 2 4 7 9 8 6 .

SS Peter & Paul Church

Hall, West Way, Botley

Contact: 01865 242057 or

osneybenefice@outlook.com.

Women's Institute Hall,

North Hinksey Lane

Contact: Val Warner

Te l . 0 1 8 6 5 2 4 5 2 7 3

Seacourt Hall,

3 Church Way

Contact: Lottie White on 07452 960100,

or email admin@seacourthall.org.uk

Pavilion, Arnold’s Way,

Elms Rise, Botley

Contact: Darren Blase 241254

louiememorialpavilio n @gmail.co m

Oxford Rugby Club,

North Hinksey Village

Contact:. Mary Bagnall

mary.bagnall1@btinternet.com.

North Hinksey & Botley Churches

Times of Services (once resumed) and Contacts

St. Lawrence, Church of England, North Hinksey Lane

1st, 2nd, 4

, 5

Sunday 11.30am Holy Communion

3 rd Sunday 11.30am Matins

St. Peter and St. Paul, Church of England, West Way

Sundays 9.30am Holy Communion

Wednesdays 10.30am Holy Communion in Chapel of Holy Spirit

1st Saturday each month, 4–5.30pm Messy Church for children and carers

Rev Clare Sykes, Tel. 01865 242345 or revclare@btinternet.com

See table above for Church Hall enquiries.

Our Lady of the Rosary, Roman Catholic, Yarn e lls Hil l

Saturday 6.30pm Mass

Sunday 9.15am Mass

Fr Daniel Lloyd 07584 323915 dlloyd@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk.

Botley Baptist Church, 1 Church Way

Sunday Service 11 am.

Wednesday Zoom Bible Study 7.30pm

Choir practice Thursday 2pm

Diane Melchert 07742 662668 www.botleybaptistchurch.org

Calvary Chapel

Sunday services held at Botley School 10.30–12 noon

Pastor Philip Vickery 01865 864498

calvarychapeloxford@yahoo.co.uk;

www.calvarychapeloxford.org.uk

What’s On

May

May 7th to 15th, Botley Art Weeks

Mon 9th Closing date for Flood Scheme comments

Mon 9th 2.30, Dean Court Community Centre, U3A: Launton

Handbell Ringers, talk and recital.

Sat 14th 10.30, Farmoor Village Hall, Posh Coffee Morning

Sat 14th 7.30, Farmoor Village Hall, Quiz Supper (book tickets

by 11th)

Thur 19th 7.30, Seacourt Hall and Zoom, Parish Council AGM

Mon 23rd 2.30, Dean Court Community Centre, U3A talk: “Keep

Calm, I’m an Air Traffic Controller” Phil Holt

June

Thur 2nd 7pm,Louie Memorial Fields, Jubilee Party, 9.45pm

Lighting the Beacon

Sat 4th 2-6pm, West Way Jubilee Festival at the shopping

centre

Mon 6th Entry deadline for Botley in Bloom

Sat 18th 1-5pm, Rugby Grounds, North Hinksey, 4th Oxford

Scouts Family Fun Day